Preparation of methylene steroids



United States Patent ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a process for preparing methylene-containing compounds which may be utilized as progestational agents. The process disclosed relates to treating an unsaturated steroid with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.

This application is continuation-in-part of US. application, Ser. No. 370,090, filed May 25, 1964 issued as US. Patent No. 3,243,434 on Mar. 29, 1966.

This invention realtes to and has as its object the provision of novel physiologically active steroids and processes for their production.

More particularly, this invention relates to the process for producing steroids possessing an A and B ring system of the formula /Q b Bi wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl (e.g., methyl); and each X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, at double bond and and Z is selected from the group consisting of a double bond and CH The pregnane derivatives of this invention are physiologically active substances which possess progestational activity when administered both in the form of tablets and as a solution or suspension and hence, can be used in lieu of known progestational agents, such as progesterone, in the treatment of habitual abortion. For this purpose, they can be administered in the same manner as progesterone, for example, the dosage being adjusted for the relative potency of the particular steroid. The compounds of this invention can also be administered perorally in the form of tablets.

The compounds of this invention can be prepared by the process of this invention, entailing a number of steps starting with steroids possessing a conjugated 3-keto system in their A ring structure "ice The starting materials of this invention may be steroids having a conjugated 3-keto system in their ring A structure and may include such compounds as 3-keto-A pregnadienes; 3 keto-A -l9-nopregnenes; 3 keto-A pregnadienes; 3-keto-A -pregnatrienes (S-ketO-A -androstadienes; 3-keto-A androstadienes; 3-keto-A -19- norandrostenes) and other like compounds.

The final products of this invention are prepared by the novel process of this invention which comprises reacting the starting materials of this invention with a dimethyl sulfoxide-methylide reactant dissolved in an aprotic polar solvent to obtain the desired methylene derivatives. Thus when a 3 keto-A steroid is employed as starting material, the final product will be a lulu-methylene-3-keto-A steroid. Examples of aprotic polar solvents that may be utilized in the practice of this invention are dimethylsulfoxide, tetrahydrofuran and dioxane. The reaction is preferably conducted at a temperature of from 0 to 50 C. However, higher and lower temperatures may be utilized according to known procedures.

The invention may be further illustrated by the following examples:

Example 1.-1oc, 2a-methylene-16a, l7a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy) -A -pregnadiene-3,20'dione.

3.3 grams of l6a,l7m-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A pregnatriene-3,20-dione is added to a solution of 25 mmoles of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide and 50 ml. of dimethylsulfoxide and the mixture stirred at room temperature for t-wenty'two hours under nitrogen. The reaction mixture is diluted with water and the resulting precipitate filtered. The solid material is taken up in ether-ethyl acetate and Washed with water, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent evaporated, to give 4.5 grams of material with a strong odor of dimethylsulfoxide. Chromatography on grams of neutral alumina and elution with benzene and benzene-chloroform 4:1 gives 2.83 of 1a,2a-methylene-16u,17a (dimethylmethylenedioxy)- Ah -pregnadiene-3,20-dione. Recrystallization from methanol gives 1.177 g. of pure material, M.P. 253255 C.

Example 2.-6a,7a-methylene-16u, 17adimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnene-3,20-dione 3.87 mg. of 16a,17a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A pregnadiene-3-20-dione is added to a solution of 5 mmoles of dimethylsulfoxonium methylide in 25 ml. of dimethylsulfoxide and the mixture stirred at room temperature under nitrogen for twenty-three hours. The reaction mixture is diluted with water and extracted with ether. The ether solution is washed with water, dried, and evaporated to give 264 mg. of oil. After thin layer chromatography (Activity V alumina) and elution of the major bands, 284 mg. of crystalline material is obtained. Recrystallization from methanol gives 69 mg. of 6a,7amethylene t,17:x (dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnene-3,20-dione, M.P. 201205 C. Further recrystallization gives analytically pure material, M.P.207-209 C., [u] 83.3,

AEtOH max.

Analysis.-Calcd for C H O C, 75.34; H, 8.60, Found: C, 75.45; H, 8.63.

Example 3.-4fl,5-methylene-16a,l7a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-19-nor-513-pregnane-3,20-dione 3 dio'xy)19-nor-5Zi-pregnane-3,'20-dione having the followin properties: M.P. 155-157 C., [0:] +8079".

Analysis.Calcd for C24H34O4: C, 74.57; H, 8.87. Found: c, 74.50 H, 8.89.

Example 4'.1a,2a-methylene-16a,17a-(dimethy1methylenedioxy) -A -pregnene-3,20-dione Following the procedure set forth in Example 2 but substituting an equivalent amount of 16a,l7u-(dimethyl methylenedioxy)A -pregnadiene-3,ZO-dione for 16:1,17a- (dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnadiene 3,20 dione there is obtained 1u,20t-mthyl6n-16ot,l70L-(dll116tl'1ylmethylenedioxy -A -pregnene-3 ,20'dione.,

The invention may be variously otherwise embodied within the scope of ,the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A process for producing steroids having one methylene group in the A or B ring structure of the formula wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen and lower alkyl; and each X is selected from the group consisting of a single bond, 21 double bond and and Z is selected from the group consisting of a double bond and CH which comprises reacting a starting I material having an A and B ring structure I :M i J of the formula wherein R is as hereinbefore defined and each Y selected from the group consisting of a single and double bond, at least one Y being a double bond, wherein said starting material is selected from the group consisting of 3-keto- A -pregnadiene, 3-keto-A -19-nonpregnadienes, 3-keto- A -pregnadienes, and 3-keto-A -pregnatrienes with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide, wherein the order of activity for introducing the methylene group is at the A A A positions, respectively.

2. A process for preparing 1u,2a-methylene-16u,17a- (dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnadiene 3,20 dione which comprises reacting 16u,17 x-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnatriene-3,20-dione with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.

3. A process for preparing 6a,7a-methylene-16u,17a- (dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -pregnene-3,20-dione which comprises reacting 16a,17a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)- A -pregnadiene-3,20-dione with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.

4. A process of preparing 45,5-methylene-160:,17a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-19-nor-5;3-pregnane 3,20 dione which comprises reacting 16a,l7a-(dimethylmethylenedioxy)-A -19-nor-pregnane-3,20-dione with dimethylsulfoxonium methylide.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,234,093 2/1966 Wiechert 16774 HENRY A. FRENCH, Primary Examiner. 

